Depending on general consumer preferences, wagons/estates have a bit of a tough time in North America. Forget their benefits, most new shoppers desire SUVs to sit higher above the road and have more than interior space. That's why the midsize Audi A6 sedan was once offered as the estate (known equally the Avant) and was discontinued for the C7 generation in North America despite living on in Europe.

To requite the market another take a chance at wagons, Audi is bringing two long-roof versions of their midsize offering. This includes the wild RS6 Avant super-wagon and the consumer-orientated A6 allroad.

The allroad features everything an SUV should take into a more efficient, rarer, and better driving vehicle. What's non to like?

The allroad Revisions

For North America, Audi raises the ride summit of the allroad past 1.2 inches over the regular sedan. The allroad features standard air break system, added some plastic body cladding and some deeper, tougher bumpers. This movement could be labelled as the 'Outback-ization' of mod wagons. Take the approach that makes the Subaru Outback such a successful vehicle and employ it to a premium product with a premium cost tag to a segment of the population that wants a premium vehicle. In that sense, the A6 allroad is a very successful vehicle: it does exactly what it's meant to do.

As standard, the allroad's body cladding is painted glossy black every bit opposed to using flat grey plastics seen on almost every rugged SUV and crossover. Audi presents the selection for a body colour matched pigment on the cladding for an additional $1000CAD (as what is featured in this demo model). This expect tin help stealth out the allroad'due south main design element and requite the illusion to look more like the European Avant. The as-tested price for this top trim model retails for $87,650CAD.

Sibling Rivalry

Currently, the A6 allroad only comes with one powertrain setup. It features the 3.0L 48V mild-hybrid turbocharged V6 with quattro ultra AWD. This ability plant produces 355 horsepower and 359 lb/ft of torque with a government rated fuel efficiency of 11.8/nine.1/10.6 Fifty/100km (city/highway/combined). The straight conversion to United states MPG is 19.9, 25.9, 22.2 for urban center/highway/combined. Comparison this vehicle to the Q7, its nigh similar sibling, the Q7 offers three engine choices but comparing the V6 to V6 in both vehicles volition offer nigh all of the same engineering and creature comforts. If your car purchase needs a third row of seating and the aforementioned seating position, and then the Q7 will remain your only satisfactory choice in the Audi lineup.

Both vehicles are astounding long-altitude driving machines with effortless comfort, impressive build quality with well-integrated engineering science. Nevertheless, if there is no need for the third row but the demand of storage flexibility plays a major factor in the purchasing decision, the A6 allroad should seriously be considered. It'due south a fair blanket statement that the cadre lineup of Audi's vehicles all feature the same drivings characteristics. They are all comfortable, removed from the outside earth and feature potent, simply not engaging, powertrains. For the allroad, all of the in a higher place is truthful. There's a little less gyre in the corners and the braking dive is noticeably less.

For driving enthusiasts, these are not bad qualities to discover in vehicles but will the typical buyer intendance to notice these differences? With the small ride height increment, the seating position does feel slightly different to the standard A6 sedan but is nowhere shut to the layout of the Q7. Interior comfort is tremendous for most passengers and drivers, simply those above 6 foot alpine will discover the reduction of the head infinite from the Q7 to the allroad.

Cabin Space and Interior Changes

Regarding the interior of the allroad, with the exception of the greater caput room for the second row, there's close to no other changes compared to the A6 sedan. The MMI Affect dual screen arrangement is integrated well with gorgeous materials and a general lack of storage space upward front. The only appreciable difference with the A6 all road'south user experience in the front of the motel is the inclusive of allroad and off-route driving modes.

These modes raise the air pause upwardly to its maximum and keep a consistent distribution of power to the wheels. The trunk space of this wagon is the big news for this vehicles cabin. Featuring an automatically sliding security embrace and an independent mesh screen to separate the trunk space from the occupant space, the A6 allroad has a lot of dandy versatility. The mesh screen will probable be used with owners that have big dogs that they can keep an eye on only won't have the worry that Cujo will rip upwards or slobber all over the leather.

Conclusion

The A6 allroad is a bit formulaic, but information technology shows that Audi is giving North American'southward another chance of the benefits of wagons. At the end of the day, any car visitor will be happy to sell you any of their products, but Audi has a least committed to giving consumers more options than some of its rivals.